Smith confident of Swans success

If the Swans are to have any chance of replicating their 2012 premiership heroics, they must first overcome a Carlton outfit bursting with talented small-forwards.

This is the belief of Swans defender Nick Smith, who claims that shutting down the Blues’ classy forward line of Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett will be the key to the Bloods progressing deeper into September.

“I thought they (Carlton’s small forwards) were a big impact in getting the Blues back into the game…they definitely changed the momentum and some of those small guys really gave them a lift I reckon,” said Smith.

“Like every week it’s a different challenge and we’re going to have to cope with that this week.”

The Carlton forwards were instrumental in orchestrating their 20-point win over Richmond at the MCG in the first week of the finals, whereas the Swans limped to a 54-point defeat at the hands of Hawthorn just two days earlier.

Smith is adamant that the Swans have moved on from last Friday night’s humiliating loss, claiming that it was important for them to look forward to this week’s encounter rather than reflect on what went wrong in their last game.

“I think we played an OK first half, our second half was pretty disappointing, but we’re just really looking forward to getting into this week and hopefully getting a big crowd at ANZ Stadium and putting our best foot forward.

“We can’t really be too flat about it, we’ve got a game this week, a knockout final, so yeah it was disappointing on the weekend but we’re really looking forward to this weekend.

“It’s pretty important that we did get over it pretty quickly, learn from what we need to get better at and then go out this week and put that forward.”

The no-frills defender also went on to say that both sides would go into Saturday night’s game with a do-or-die attitude, with the Swans not wanting to waste the second chance they receive as a reward for finishing in the top four.

“It’s a knock-out final so I think both teams will go in with that approach that there is nothing to lose, there’s no next week if you lose, so you might as well leave it all out on the ground,” said Smith.

“We fought hard all year…because we did fight so hard all year we get this second chance and who knows.”

Smith has played 22 games this season, and has a reputation for shutting down opposition small forwards with his hard-nosed approach to the game.

He will have to be at his best again if the Swans are to book their place in the preliminary final and make a tilt towards successive premiership triumphs.